Vegetable gardening has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the past few years due to the economy, the price of gas, and an increasing concern by consumers about the origin of the foods they eat.
Growing vegetables can produce products that are cheaper than store bought and there is no concern about dangerous pesticides, herbicides or other additives that may be harmful. Add to that the personal satisfaction you get by growing your own food and its no wonder vegetable gardening has grown in popularity.
Vegetable gardening tips abound on the internet but one of the most important aspects before you begin is planning out your garden. You must decide if you want a raised bed vegetable garden, a potted vegetable garden, or a garden planted directly in the ground.
The constants of any garden are good drainage, good airflow, rich deep soil, and plenty of sunshine. Also, be sure to protect your garden because many animals and pests, such as dogs, rabbits, deer, moles, mice and others will try and get to your veggies. Fences and traps can be effective deterrents against intruders.
The garden plan is vitally important in vegetable gardening and you should spend some time on the garden arrangement. There is no single plan that will work for every garden due to varying conditions.
One popular way to arrange a vegetable garden is to plant vegetables needing only limited space together, such as radishes, lettuce, beets, and spinach, and those that require more room together, like corn, pumpkins, and potatoes. Try and plant tall growing plants towards the back of the garden and shorter ones in the front so that their sunlight does not get blocked.
Having good soil is a must for vegetable gardening and good soil is achieved by cultivation and the application of organic materials. The soil must be tilled (plowed) to control weeds and mulch should be mixed into the soil. If you have a small garden, spading can be a better bet than plowing and mulching is a vital part of soil preparation.
Organic matter added to the soil releases nitrogen, minerals, and other nutrients plants need to thrive. One of the most popular and best type of mulch you can use is compost. Fertilizer use depends on the soil and types of plants, but there are some plants that have specific needs; leafy plants, like cabbage, spinach, and lettuce usually grow better with more nitrogen, while root crops like potatoes, beets, turnips, and carrots require more potash.
Tomatoes and beans use less fertilizer, while plants like onions, celery, and potatoes need a larger amount.
When you are finally ready to begin planting your vegetable garden, make sure and plant at the right time of year. If you wish to get an early start, you may want begin your garden inside in a green house and then transplant when weather permits.
After you are finished planting, make sure your vegetables receive the appropriate amount of water. Most plants will need the equivalent to about an inch of water per week.
Weeds control in vegetable gardening is another important concern because weeds will take up water, light, and nutrients meant for the vegetables and they often bring disease and insects to the garden. You can get rid of weeds by cultivation or mulching. To protect against disease and insects you can buy seeds that are disease resistant or use controlled chemicals.
Vegetable gardening is popular with many people because you can actually taste the fruits of your labor. Vegetable gardening is not that expensive to start and the taste of homegrown veggies definitely beats out that of supermarket vegetables.
Your vegetable gardening days will be full of produce if you take the proper precautions when planting and maintain your garden properly.
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